UAE nuclear program gains momentum

With an ambition to generate up to 25 percent of its electricity needs — or 5.6GW — through nuclear means by 2020 nuclear energy has gained momentum in the UAE.
The peaceful nuclear power program has been going ahead with various initiatives.
The related government departments, has been running programs to educate the public while the body responsible for the project has started recruiting talented Emiratis in different positions.
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) hosted a public forum in Dubai to provide a better insight into their mission, vision and core values to the public.
William Travers, FANR’s director-general, explained the authority’s role in the nuclear power program and its responsibilities in regulating and licensing radioactive materials and radiation sources used in medicine, research, oil exploration and other industries.
A number of residents, officials from government and private organizations participated in the event.
Mariyam Fathima, an Emarati house-wife, told Arab News that the public forum was useful as it provided accurate information about the peaceful nuclear program .
“Clean and efficient nuclear energy is a must for the future and the authority should conduct such awareness programs in every nook and corner of the country,” she said while talking Arab News after the event.
“The question and answer session was very useful,” she added.
“We are encouraging residents of Dubai to be aware of the UAE’s peaceful nuclear power program and particularly FANR’s independent role in helping to assure nuclear safety, security and safeguards,” said William Travers.
FANR officials explained to the public the Authority’s commitment to the highest standards of safety, security and safeguards, including its licensing of the nuclear power project at Barakah.
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, (ENEC), the body responsible for the project, meanwhile, announced that they are seeking to recruit the best and brightest Emiratis to join the UAE’s nuclear energy program.
The UAE is one of 35 countries that have pledged to turn international guidelines on the protection of nuclear materials from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IEAE) into federal laws.
ENEC is committed to providing safe, reliable, clean and efficient nuclear energy to the UAE and is leading the construction of the first nuclear energy plants, which are located in Barakah, in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi.
A total of four nuclear energy plants will be constructed by 2020, pending regulatory approvals.
The first two plants are already under construction, with the first plant scheduled to commence commercial operations in 2017, pending further regulatory approvals.
“The UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy program is one of the most ambitious and exciting projects undertaken by the UAE in the last 40 years, and the development of a skilled and dedicated workforce is critical to its success,” Mohamed Al-Hammadi, CEO at ENEC said in a statement e-mailed to Arab News.
He said his department will need around 2,000 employees to operate its four nuclear energy plants by 2020.
Talented Emirati nationals will play an important role in achieving this goal.
Currently, ENEC is participating at UAE Career event in Dubai to recruit UAE nationals.
Last week, ENEC inaugurated its Simulator Training Center, STC, at Barakah .
The new simulators, which are among the world’s most advanced nuclear training devices and the first of their kind in the Middle East, will complement ENEC’s comprehensive training program and help ENEC to prepare its scholarship students to attain Reactor Operator (RO) and Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) certifications.